Metal casing for tilework.



TTTn TATES PATH T Trice.

RICHARD C. DARNES, OF COSHOCTON, OHIO.

METAL CASING FDR TILEWORK.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 661,500, dated. November 13, 1900.

A li ti fil d March 7, 1900. serial No. 7,725. kllo models To aZZ whom it nuty concern:

Be it known that I, RICHARD C. DARNES, a citizen of the United States, residing at Coshocton, in the county of (Joshocton and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in a Metal Casing for Tilework; and I do hereby declare the followingto be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to means for securing tiles around open grates, fireplaces, and the like without the intervention of cement, stucco, plaster-of-paris, and the like, said means being in the form of a metallic casing of a size depending upon the character of work and size of tiles employed.

When the tiles are secured in place by plaster, cement, or like material, they frequently become displaced because of the lack of and adhesive affinity between the tiles and said material.

The present invention prevents the loosening of the tiles, holds them in place, and materially cheapens the work of setting and obviates the frequent repairs necessitated by the common practice of setting thetiles in mortar or cement.

For a full description of the invention and the merits thereof and also to acquire a knowledge of the details of construction of the means for effecting the result reference is to be had to the following description and the drawings hereto attached.

Vhile the essential and characteristic fea tures of the invention are necessarily susceptible of modification, still the preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a front view of a mantel and fireplace, showing the tile set or held in place by the means forming the basis of this invention. Fig. 2 is a rear view of the mantel, showing the manner of attaching the tile thereto. tel, showing the casing applied to one of the legs in section.

Corresponding and like parts are referred to in the following description and indicated in all the views of the drawings by the same reference characters.

Fig. 3 is a bottom view of the man-v The tile-casing is preferably constructed of sheet metal of su'liicient thickness to maintain the shape imparted thereto and approximates in form a shallow trough. The casing comprises a back 1, sides 2, and inturned flanges 3, which are designed to overlap opposite edge portions of the tiles 4 and prevent outward displacement thereof. The casing may be of any length, width, and depth to suit differentconditions, locations, and styles of tiles and can be readily cut to the required length in order to meet the work in hand. The casing is preferably formed of a strip of sheet metal of proper gage having its edge portions bent about at a right angle to form the sides 2 and edge portions rebent to provide the inturned flanges 3, which hold the tiles in place.

When it is required to apply tiling to the chimney-breast, so as to inclose the fireplace, the metal casing is provided in lengths to conform to the width and height of the fireplace, and the tiles e'are slipped into the open ends of the casing, and the latter is secured in place by attachment to either the chimney-breast or mantel 5. When the mantel is of wood, the straps 6, soldered or otherwise attached to the casing, are made fast to the parts of the mantel by being nailed thereto, as shown most clearly in Fig. 2. These straps (i may be attached to any portion of the casing and in any substantial manner and may be socured either to the wall or mantel, as found most convenient.

The length of casing extending over the head of the fireplace is open at each end, whereas the lengths applied to the legs of the mantel are open at their upper ends, their lower ends being closed by flanges 7, formed by bending portions of the back 1 and sides 2 inward to form a support for the tiles and prevent the same from downward displacement. The meeting ends of the horizontal and vertical portions of the lengths of casing may be jointed in any convenient way, the miter-joint being preferred because giving the best results. The parts bordering upon the joints should overlap, as clearly indicated in Fig. 2, to prevent displacement of the tiles, and, if desired, the overlapping portions can be secured by the application of solder thereto. The corner-tiles extend part way into the adjacent end portions of the lengths of casing and serve to maintain a contiguity of surface between the vertical and horizontal lines of tiles, Which is essential in order to secure a finished appearan ce.

From the foregoing it will be readily understood that the casing can be placed upon the market in any length and can be cut to the required size; also, that the invention is of such a nature as to admit of tiling being applied to Inantels, thereby precluding the necessity of the services of a lIlRSOIl for setting the tile after the mantel has been placed in position or prior to the positioning of the mantel. ItWill be furihernoted that the corner-tiles constitute a lock for the adjacent ends of the vertical and horizontal lines of tiling, and displacement thereof is prevented RICHARD O. DARNES.

Witnesses:

LESTER I. GORSELINE, GEORGE E. MoOAMMoNT. 

